MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has expressed grave concern over North Korea’s detonation of a hydrogen bomb and urged Pyongyang to return to the negotiating table in efforts to find a solution to its nuclear and missile problem.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said such provocative actions undermine regional peace and stability.
“Aside from flouting all of its commitments under relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, this test limits our available options for meaningful dialogue to address the real issues confronting the Korean Peninsula,” the DFA chief said in a statement issued Sunday, Sept. 3, shortly after North Korea announced that it had tested a hydrogen bomb at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site.
Cayetano, who currently serves as chair of ASEAN, called on Pyongyang to return to the negotiating table, noting that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations stands ready to play a role in creating diplomatic space to effect meaningful dialogue.
Cayetano, who went to in Seoul for an official visit, met with Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Asia-Pacific Affairs Millicent Cruz-Paredes and Ambassador to Seoul Raul Hernandez to discuss the situation in the Korean Peninsula.
He also instructed officers and staff of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul to ensure the safety of about 65,000 Filipinos living and working in South Korea and make them aware of the contingency plans that have been prepared in case the situation in the peninsula further escalates.
Cayetano also assured the Filipino community in South Korea that measures were already in place to make sure that the Philippine government could come to their assistance in case it would become necessary for them to evacuate.
The detonation Sunday afternoon came a few days after North Korea launched a ballistic missile that flew over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.